by Jason M. Castle

Created on: December 21, 2008

"Iz" If you don't know who that is just type his name into youtube and you will find an experience that reminds you of the better things in life. At least that is who he is to me.

This man is a hero because he had the courage to demand of himself that he give people hope by sharing his music. He seemed to find an excuse to find all of the joy that can be had in every-single-day. I have been plagued by pain and death most of my life. This gives me hope, I saved someone's life a few weeks ago and now this coming month their is a good chance I will be homeless AGAIN! No drugs, no alcohol, just life. Their are a few hero's that I have know people who have acted on instinct for another. Somtimes a hero is someone who makes a choice and suffers so that other people can be saved. Sometimes a hero is someone who just knows how to love unconditionally. I never met IZ but I can't imagine a person with hate or malice in his core being able to inspire like he did. Hero's are never perfect often they have been villans before, but at their core is this gift that they are able to share with other people whether we notice or not.

So as I sit here listening to this larger than life version of "Some where over the rainbow" over and over I am struck by how incredible my life is. I have seen some amazing things, two weeks ago I held a man's head together, a couple of years ago I helped two car loads of people in a car accident, I saved a 22yr old woman and her unborn baby(her husband died at the scene), five years ago I helped seven teenage girls find their way home safe and sound, ten years ago I saw an old man dream who had forgotten how, fifteen years ago I sat on a beach on the island of Kawajalen and saw so much beauty I would swear God was showing me heaven. Maybe their is more, maybe this is not REAL enough for some people or "GOD SAYS". I don't know about all that I just know that a hero is someone who gives because it's good. This all reminds me that a hero's thanks is the dream of somewhere over the rainbow and how no matter what happens next their will be a place that is amazing again.

Really what IZ is saying to me and I think to all of us. He's just saying that when you see this wonderful world around us you become that bright place. Then the light that you shine just might make someone else light up too. If I can inspire someone else to have hope then I have truly lived a blessed life.

It's like all of the work and toil becomes worth it, not because we have what we strive for but because someone else is reminded that they too can have hope. "Where trouble melts like lemon drops that's where you'll find me...", when you are focused on the rainbow you don't really notice the rain.

Thanks IZ

Mahalo

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